Theman of sin (Greek:ὁ ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἁμαρτίας,ho anthrōpos tēs hamartias) orman of lawlessness (ἀνομίας,anomias),man of rebellion,man of insurrection, orman of apostasy is a figure referred to in theChristian Bible in theSecond Epistle to the Thessalonians. He is usually equated with theAntichrist inChristian eschatology.
In2 Thessalonians 2:3–10, the "man of sin" is described as one who will be revealed before theDay of the Lord comes. TheCodex Sinaiticus andCodex Vaticanus have the reading "man of lawlessness" andBruce M. Metzger argues that this is the original reading even though 94% ofmanuscripts have "man of sin".[1][a]
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.[3]
Nearly all commentators, both ancient and modern, identify the man of sin in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 as the Antichrist, even though they vary greatly in who they view the Antichrist to be.[4] The man of sin is variously identified withCaligula,[5]Nero,[6][7] thepapacy[8] and the end timesAntichrist. Some scholars believe that the passage contains no genuine prediction, but represents a speculation of the apostle's own, based onDaniel 8:23ff;11:36ff, and on contemporary ideas ofAntichrist.[5][9]
TheCatholic andEastern Orthodox traditions consider the Man of Sin to come at theEnd of the World, when thekatechon, the one who restrains, will be taken out. Katechon is also interpreted as theGrand Monarch or a new Orthodox Emperor, inaugurating a rebirth of theHoly Roman Empire.[citation needed]
Various Protestant andanti-Catholic commentators have linked the term and identity to the Catholic Church and thePope.[10] The "temple of God" is here understood to be the church; the restraining power the Roman empire.[citation needed]
Dispensationalists view this as a reference to a coming world ruler (Antichrist) who will succeed in making a peace treaty with Israel for 7 years (Daniel's 70th week) guaranteeing some sort of Middle East peace settlement with the Arab nations.[citation needed] This will occur after the rebuilding of theThird Temple in Jerusalem and the restoration of temple sacrifices. He will break his peace treaty with Israel 31⁄2 years into the plan, enter the "rebuilt Third Temple" and perform theabomination of desolation by setting up an idol of himself in the Temple and declare himself God.[citation needed]
